The Bernie Buzz

Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to visit town fairs in every part of Vermont, each with its own history, personality, and tradition. And I have a lot of memories from them all. Like many other Vermonters, my kids, grandchildren, and I have enjoyed the rides, the food, the agricultural exhibits, the historical displays, the demolition derbies, the tractor pulls, the beer tents, the concerts, and many other activities.

Recently, my team spoke to World War II Veteran Bob Coon, now 97, to talk about his time in service, his experiences as a veteran, and his life in Vermont. Bob fought in the 1940s and served in the 101st Airborne Division, where he parachuted into the occupied Netherlands and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

Now, more than ever, it is important for ordinary people to make their voices heard and for elected leaders to listen to what they have to say. That is why in the coming weeks, my Senate staff will be out knocking on doors across our state, to hear directly from Vermonters about the issues that matter most to them and answer questions about how my office can be of help.

A major challenge that our rural communities face today – which does not get enough attention – is the struggle to staff our volunteer fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crews. Simply put, EMS providers and firefighters are the first responders to some of people’s most difficult moments, and often are the difference between life and death.

There are many beloved pastimes that come with rural life in Vermont. One in particular that has, despite the odds, survived the test of time: drive-in movies. They started in the 1930’s, but drive-ins really took off in the 50’s and 60’s. At one point, there were 20 drive-ins in Vermont and more than 4,000 around the country. Today, we have only three in state, and just a few hundred nationwide.

The president’s decision yesterday to reduce the outrageous level of student debt in our country is an important step forward in providing real financial help to a struggling middle class. Yesterday’s announcement to reduce up to $10,000 in student debt for working class Americans and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients will eliminate student debt for some 20 million Americans and reduce debt for some 43 million. The result of this decision is that millions of Americans will now be in a better position to start families, or buy the homes and cars they have long needed. As someone who’s fought for years to cancel student debt, this is a big deal. But we have got to do more.